Although the bulk of The Winners is written in the present tense, Backman’s narrator also refers to the past and the future—events that will take place long after the story has ended. How does the narration of time impact the reading of the book? What does it add to the story being told? Does it take anything away?

Kira and Hannah are both women devote to their families and their jobs. Compare and contrast the two women. Think about their careers, their roles as wives, and their roles as mothers.

The novel opens with a storm. How do the ways the different characters react to the storm reflect their goals and priorities? Whose reaction to the storm was surprising?